Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord had a goal disallowed during Australia’s 2-0 win over Kenya in the FIFA Series final at Nyayo National Stadium.
The effort was ruled out in the second half after referee Yordanos Mulugeta judged that the ball had gone in through the side netting rather than crossing the line legally.
How Foord’s goal was ruled out against Kenya
The incident came in the 61st minute, with the Matildas pushing for a second goal. Foord finished after Amy Sayer’s low ball from the right, following earlier work from Clare Wheeler in the move.
At first glance, some of the confusion appeared to be around whether Sayer had been offside in the build-up. But the decision was not for offside. Instead, Mulugeta awarded a goal kick, indicating that the ball had gone out and then entered the net from the side.
Broadcast pictures from the game, as reported by talkSPORT, showed Foord, Sam Kerr and Alanna Kennedy protesting the call. Foord was then booked for dissent as the discussion continued.
Why the goal was ruled out: the decision explained
If the referee judges that the whole ball has gone out of play before a goal is scored, play must restart accordingly and the goal cannot stand. In this case, the call was effectively that the ball had passed outside the goal frame, through or by the side netting, and only then ended up in the net.
Under the IFAB Laws of the Game on goals, a goal is scored only when the whole ball passes over the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar, provided no offence has been committed. Without VAR in the tournament, there was no review process to revisit the on-field decision.
Australia’s result against Kenya
The disallowed goal did not change the outcome. Australia still won 2-0, with Kerr and Wheeler getting the goals as Joe Montemurro’s side followed up their 5-0 win over Malawi and lifted the FIFA Series trophy.
It was another eventful international break for Arsenal’s Matildas contingent, with Foord among several WSL players away on national-team duty. She will now turn attention back to club football after a busy window that again showed why the WSL international break calendar matters so much to players and supporters alike.
Australia’s recent run has also come in the shadow of bigger national-team conversations, including the wider debate around the Matildas’ Asian Cup pay gap and other off-pitch issues involving senior players such as Foord’s Arsenal and Australia teammate Steph Catley.
Foord’s next focus is likely to be Arsenal duty, with the Gunners forward set to return to London after the international window and resume preparations for the closing stretch of the domestic season.
